Japan Downs China 7-1 to Sweep WBC Round One 3-0

Samurai Japan is going strong in the World Baseball Classic Group B contest as it trounced China 7-1 in the third game in Round 1 at the Tokyo Dome March 10. The samurais have registered three straight wins.

The Japanese team outslugged the Cubans in the initial game on March 7 and ousted the Australians in the second game to pick up two consecutive wins to get on the ball. The hard-hitting left fielder Tsutsugo hit two home runs to help sweep the both games.

In the third game against China, the samurais started off cool with a home run by Seiji Kobayashi in the second inning and another for two runs in the third inning by Sho Nakada and breezed through for the third win in Round 1 of the world baseball contest.

The samurais had done rather poorly in the pep-up games prior to the contest and were not expected to do this well.

The Japanese and the Cubans are representing Group B to move to Round 2. The samurais are facing the Dutch in the initial game in Round 2 starting March 12. South Korea and China have dropped out of the contest.

The Cubans will challenge the Japanese for a revenge in the second game on March 14. Japan will meet Israel in the third game on March 15. The Israeli team have pulled through Group A with an impressive 3-0 victory and promises to be a rather formidable foe with Jewish American major/minor leaguers.

The Japanese team is looking for first or second place in the four-team contest in Round 2 to move to the semifinal match slated in the United States. (Nathan Shiga) ]

Source: NHK